Innovation Kyoto 2016 Investment Limited Partnership ("KYOTO-iCAP No.1 Fund"), whose general partner is Kyoto University Innovation Capital Corporation ("Kyoto iCAP") (Head office: Sakyo-ku, Kyoto; Representative Director: Shuji Higuchi), has made its first investment in a venture company utilizing Kyoto University's research results. ("KDDD") and Stem Cell & Device Institute, Inc. ("SCAD") as its first round of investments in venture companies that utilize the research results of Kyoto University.

symbol used as a placeholder (either because a number of other words could be used in that position or because of censorship)AFI Technology Corporation (Execution of Investment in AFI)

AFI is a company that develops and markets equipment and devices for rapid, label-free separation and purification of cells and microorganisms using "electrical measurement and microfluidic technology" based on fundamental technologies developed in collaboration with Professor Masakazu Toi (Department of Breast Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University), targeting the cell and microbiological testing industries. The company develops and sells equipment and devices for rapid, label-free separation and purification of cells and microorganisms using "electrical measurement and microfluidic technology" targeting the cell and microbiology industries.

AFI's vision that the industrialization of regenerative medicine requires rapid, label-free separation of target cells is one that we can share, and we can expect AFI's technology to boost the industrialization of regenerative medicine in the future. In addition, researchers in various fields that handle cells have shown interest in AFI's devices, which is expected to create a virtuous cycle in which "university-launched ventures attempt to commercialize the results of university research, thereby further accelerating research in academia.

Kyoto iCAP evaluated these factors, and together with Osaka University Venture Capital Corporation (headquartered in Suita City, Osaka; Yoshio Matsumi, President), Minato Capital Co: (Head office: Suita City, Osaka; President: Yoshio Matsumi), Minato Capital Corporation (Head office: Chuo-ku, Kobe; President: Keigo Ihara), and Miyako Capital Corporation (Head office: Sakyo-ku, Kyoto; President: Satoshi Yamaguchi), and invested 140 million yen as lead investor.

This is the first time that venture capitalists, subsidiaries of national university corporations, established under the Public-Private Innovation Program for Investment in National Universities, have made investments in the same company in collaboration with each other.

AFI Technology Corporation Company Profile

Establishment	May 2013
Business	Separation and refining equipment for cells and microorganisms using electric measurement and micro flow circuit technology
Head Office Location	Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto
President & CEO	Ryuji Enjoji

 

symbol used as a placeholder (either because a number of other words could be used in that position or because of censorship)Kyoto Drug Discovery Institute, Inc.

KDDD is a company that develops novel therapeutic agents for intractable ocular diseases such as central retinal artery occlusion and retinitis pigmentosa using KUS agents, a novel small molecule compound developed by the Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kyoto University (Professor Akira Kakizuka, Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto University School of Medicine (Specially Appointed Professor Nagahisa Yoshimura) and the Integrated Clinical Research Center, Kyoto University Hospital (Associate Professor Hanako Ikeda, former Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology). ), and is developing novel therapeutic agents for rare diseases such as central retinal artery occlusion, retinitis pigmentosa, as well as glaucoma and other intractable ocular diseases.

KUS agents have a novel pharmacological action of preventing and inhibiting cell degeneration and death by suppressing ATP consumption by VCP, one of the proteins that consume intracellular ATP (ATPase). In animal experiments, it has been confirmed that it acts protectively on retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve fibers, and is effective in inhibiting the progression of glaucoma. Glaucoma is the leading cause of visual impairment in Japan, and currently the only treatment is to lower intraocular pressure. KUS agents are expected to be applied to other retinal diseases and various degenerative diseases other than ophthalmology.

Kyoto iCAP has decided to invest ¥200 million as a lead investor in KDDD's third-party allocation of new shares totaling ¥380 million, together with Miyako Capital Corporation (Head office: Sakyo-ku, Kyoto; President: Tetsushi Yamaguchi), SMBC Venture Capital Corporation (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Tatsufumi Ishibashi) and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kei Ando) have agreed to invest 200 million yen as lead investors.

Kyoto Institute for Drug Discovery Research, Inc.

Establishment	May, 2015
Business	Development of novel therapeutic agents for intractable ocular diseases using VCP modulators
Head Office Location	Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
President & CEO	Kunihiro Musashi

 

symbol used as a placeholder (either because a number of other words could be used in that position or because of censorship)Stem Cell & Device Institute, Inc.

SCAD develops and markets human iPS cell-derived cardiomyocyte devices for drug screening applications based on technology developed by Professor Emeritus Norio Nakatsuji, founding director of the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) at Kyoto University, and others to induce cardiomyocyte differentiation at low cost from human iPS cells and cell culture technology to mature and stabilize cardiomyocytes using oriented nanofibers. The company develops and sells human iPS cell-derived cardiomyocyte devices for drug screening applications based on the technology to induce differentiation of human iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes at low cost and the technology to mature and stabilize cardiomyocytes using oriented nanofibers.

The SCAD approach of creating innovation by integrating cells and materials embodies the philosophy of the Kyoto University iCeMS. The use of human iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes in the evaluation of cardiotoxicity in the drug discovery process is increasingly being discussed for international standardization, particularly in Japan, the U.S., and Europe. SCAD, which aims to provide high-quality cardiomyocytes with high functional maturity and stability on a global basis through its unique approach, is expected to be a leader in the development of human iPS cell-derived cell products for full-scale industrial applications.

Kyoto iCAP has decided to invest 140 million yen as a lead investor in SCAD's Series A private placement of 200 million yen in total, together with SMBC Venture Capital Co. (headquartered in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Hirohisa Uchida, Representative Director) as lead investors.

Stem Cell & Device Institute, Inc. company profile

Establishment	May 2014
Business	Development and marketing of cellular devices for cardiac toxicity screening
Head Office Location	Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
President & CEO	Kensuke Kato